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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Response of denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation processes in freshwater and marine sediments to polyvinyl chloride microplastics
ClearA Study of the Effects of Microplastics on Microbial Communities in Marine Sediments
This study investigated how the presence of microplastics in marine sediments affects microbial communities and, specifically, the methane cycle, finding that microplastics significantly altered microbial community structure and function. Since marine sediment microbes play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic contamination could have broader climate-relevant effects beyond direct toxicity.
Microplastics promote methane emission in estuarine and coastal wetlands
This study found that microplastics in coastal and estuarine wetlands increase methane emissions by boosting the activity of methane-producing microorganisms while reducing methane-consuming ones. Both conventional and biodegradable plastics had this effect, meaning microplastic pollution is not just a direct health concern but also contributes to climate change by amplifying greenhouse gas release from natural ecosystems.
Effects of microplastics on sedimentary greenhouse gas emissions and underlying microbiome-mediated mechanisms: A comparison of sediments from distinct altitudes
Researchers compared how PVC and polylactic acid microplastics affect greenhouse gas emissions from river sediments at different altitudes along the Yellow River. The study found that both types of microplastics increased carbon dioxide emissions by promoting the growth of organic-matter-degrading microbes, while PVC specifically boosted nitrous oxide emissions by enriching denitrifying bacteria.
An in-depth analysis of microbial response to exposure to high concentrations of microplastics in anaerobic wastewater fermentation
This study investigated how high concentrations of three common microplastic types affect the microbes used in anaerobic wastewater treatment, finding that microplastics reduced methane production by up to 56%. PVC had the most damaging effect on the microbial communities that break down waste, while polyethylene was somewhat less disruptive. The findings matter because impaired wastewater treatment means more pollutants, including microplastics themselves, could escape into waterways that feed human water supplies.
Concentration-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on methanogenic activity and microbial community shifts in sewer sediment
This study tested how polystyrene microplastics affect methane-producing microbes in sewer sediments and found that low concentrations boosted methane production by over 200%, while higher concentrations had a smaller stimulating effect. The findings matter for wastewater management because microplastics entering sewer systems could alter greenhouse gas emissions and disrupt the microbial processes that treatment plants rely on.
Microplastics and their mechanisms in influencing methane oxidation: A physiological and ecological perspective
This review examines the physiological and ecological mechanisms by which microplastics influence methane oxidation processes in the environment, synthesising current understanding of how ubiquitous plastic contamination may disrupt microbial communities responsible for mitigating methane — a greenhouse gas 20-30 times more potent than CO2.
Microplastics Affect Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane and Sedimentary Prokaryotic Communities in Cold Seep Areas
Laboratory experiments exposing cold seep seafloor sediments to microplastics for 120 days showed that polyamide and PET microplastics reduced methane oxidation rates to roughly a third of normal and altered the bacterial communities responsible for this process. Cold seep sediments are major global sinks for methane, so microplastic disruption of this microbial activity could have implications for greenhouse gas cycling in deep ocean environments.
Microplastic accelerate the phosphorus-related metabolism of bacteria to promote the decomposition of methylphosphonate to methane
Researchers found that microplastics accelerate phosphorus-related metabolism in marine bacteria, promoting the decomposition of methylphosphonate to methane in oxygenated water and revealing a previously unknown mechanism linking plastic pollution to greenhouse gas production.
Revealing How Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastic Physicochemically Affect the Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Activated Sludge
PVC microplastics in sewage sludge change the surface chemistry of sludge flocs, raising the energy barrier between sludge and the microbes that break it down and causing microbial communities to reorganise. At low concentrations PVC initially increases contact efficiency, but at higher concentrations it coats sludge surfaces and blocks microbial access, ultimately reducing methane production in anaerobic digesters — a finding relevant to the performance and safety of wastewater treatment plants receiving plastic-contaminated sludge.
Microplastics from polyvinyl chloride agricultural plastic films do not change nitrogenous gas emission but enhance denitrification potential
Researchers investigated whether microplastics from PVC and PE agricultural films affect nitrogen gas emissions from soil. They found that while PVC microplastics did not significantly change nitrogenous gas emissions under normal oxygen conditions, they enhanced the soil's denitrification potential under low-oxygen conditions. The study suggests that plastic film residues in farmland may subtly alter soil nitrogen cycling processes.
Effects of microplastics on nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and microbial communities in sediments
Researchers found that PVC, PLA, and polypropylene microplastics altered nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in freshwater sediments by shifting microbial community composition, with effects varying by polymer type and biodegradability.
Effects of microplastics on greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities in sediment of freshwater systems
Researchers found that PET microplastics of different sizes significantly affected greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities in freshwater sediments, with smaller particles (5 micrometers) notably increasing methane emissions and altering nutrient cycling over 90 days.
Long-Term Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on Anaerobic Granular Sludge for Recovering Methane from Wastewater
Researchers studied the long-term effects of PVC microplastics on anaerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment over 264 days. They found that microplastic exposure significantly reduced organic matter removal efficiency by up to 35.5% and decreased methane production by up to 32.3%, while disrupting the protective biofilm around sludge granules. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination in wastewater can impair the biological treatment processes that cities rely on for waste management and energy recovery.
Colonization characteristics and dynamic transition of archaea communities on polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in the sediments of mangrove ecosystems
Researchers found that microplastics in mangrove sediments host distinct communities of archaea (ancient microorganisms) that differ from those in surrounding sediments, with some species linked to increased methane production. The microbial communities on microplastic surfaces shifted over time and showed increased potential for methane emissions and changes in nitrogen cycling. This suggests that microplastic pollution in coastal wetlands could amplify greenhouse gas production and disrupt nutrient cycles that support these critical ecosystems.
CH4 and CO2 Emissions from the Decomposition of Microplastics in the Bottom Sediment—Preliminary Studies
Preliminary experiments measured CO2 and methane emissions from decomposing microplastics (PVC, PP, and rubber) in water-saturated bottom sediments, finding measurable greenhouse gas production that varied by polymer type and plasticizer content. The results suggest that microplastic accumulation in aquatic sediments may represent a previously unaccounted source of greenhouse gas emissions.
The impact of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on carbon and nitrogen cycling in peat-forming environments: relevance of the filler additive calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Researchers tested how polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect carbon and nitrogen cycling in soil microcosms, finding that PVC MPs altered microbial community structure and suppressed key enzymatic activities involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient transformation.
Production Potential of Greenhouse Gases Affected by Microplastics at Freshwater and Saltwater Ecosystems
Researchers experimentally analyzed how four types of microplastics (PET, HDPE, PVC, and polyamide) affect greenhouse gas production in freshwater and saltwater soils, finding that microplastics promoted CO2 production across all ecosystems while HDPE had the greatest impact on methane emissions at 1,276 umol/g/L.
Polyethylene microplastic-induced microbial shifts affected greenhouse gas emissions during litter decomposition in coastal wetland sediments
Scientists found that polyethylene microplastics in coastal wetland sediments significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions during plant litter decomposition, cutting methane by 41% and carbon dioxide by 26%. This happened because the microplastics changed the communities of bacteria, fungi, and archaea responsible for breaking down organic matter. While reduced greenhouse gases may sound positive, the disruption to natural decomposition processes could have unpredictable long-term effects on coastal ecosystems.
Different responses of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge to PVC microplastics
This study found that PVC microplastics have opposite effects on methane production depending on digestion temperature: low concentrations of PVC boosted methane yield in mesophilic (37°C) anaerobic digestion while inhibiting it under thermophilic (55°C) conditions. These effects were linked to changes in the microbial communities responsible for breaking down organic matter, with PVC disrupting key propionate-oxidizing and methanogenic bacteria at higher temperatures. The findings are important for wastewater treatment facilities that use anaerobic digestion, as microplastics in sewage sludge could affect energy recovery efficiency.
Microplastics as drivers of carbon and nitrogen cycling alterations in aquatic ecosystems: A meta-analysis
This network meta-analysis found that microplastics enhance dissolved and total organic carbon in aquatic sediments, promote anaerobic processes, and stimulate greenhouse gas emissions including N2O and methane. In seawater sediments, microplastics significantly boosted denitrification gene abundance, while biodegradable microplastics showed stronger effects on carbon and nitrogen cycling than conventional plastics.
Revealing the Mechanisms of Polyethylene Microplastics Affecting Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Activated Sludge
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, a common wastewater treatment process. They found that higher concentrations of microplastics significantly reduced methane production by disrupting microbial communities and enzyme activities essential for digestion. The study reveals that microplastic contamination in wastewater systems can undermine the efficiency of sludge treatment and biogas generation.
Microplastics affect organic nitrogen in sediment: The response of organic nitrogen mineralization to microbes and benthic animals
Researchers investigated how different types of microplastics affect organic nitrogen cycling in sediments, measuring the responses of key nitrogen-transforming microorganisms. They found microplastics alter the composition of organic nitrogen and suppress certain nitrogen cycling processes.
Unraveling the effects and mechanisms of microplastics on anaerobic fermentation: Exploring microbial communities and metabolic pathways
Researchers investigated how five types of microplastics affect the anaerobic fermentation process used to treat sewage sludge. They found that polyethylene microplastics caused the greatest reduction in volatile fatty acid production, while polyvinyl chloride had the least impact, and all types disrupted microbial communities in distinct ways. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in wastewater could meaningfully interfere with sludge treatment efficiency.
Revealing the response of microbial communities to polyethylene micro(nano)plastics exposure in cold seep sediment
Researchers explored how polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics affect microbial communities in cold seep ocean sediments over a 120-day experiment. While the plastics did not significantly change overall microbial diversity, they did alter the community structure and affected methane-related metabolic processes. The study suggests that plastic pollution could interfere with important deep-sea biogeochemical cycles, including those involved in methane regulation.